Identifying five types of flirts

This person relies on body language to communicate sexual interest.

"One of the unique things about the physical flirt is they like to go to clubs to dance with strangers," University of Kansas professor Jeffrey Hall says. "That's something they find enjoyable."

He describes this person as being "switched on," always looking for signs of flirting and sexual interest from other people. They can interpret even the most innocuous gesture as flirting.

This category includes the obnoxious flirts who see themselves as heaven's gift to the opposite sex. "They think of themselves as being more physically attractive than the people around them," Hall says. "Their problem is they're more likely to assume the person they're flirting with is interested when they're not. They can end up stepping on toes and making people feel uncomfortable."

Bottom line: People who scored high in this category often develop relationships quickly and have more sexual chemistry with their partners.

Where the physical flirt is switched on all the time, the polite flirt doesn't even know where the switch is.

They might have to be hit over the head, figuratively speaking, to realize that someone is flirting with them.

Cautious is another word for this person. They think that touching another person or complimenting them is bad manners — although, as Hall points out, science tells us that both those behaviors are useful in showing romantic interest.

In Hall's research, people over the age of 40 were most likely to prefer using this style.

Bottom line: Polite flirts tend to have longer, more meaningful romantic relationships.

This person thinks the bar is the best place to start a relationship. They enjoy the sport of flirting, playing the game. This is that casual fling, the friend with "benefits."

The problem? All that game-playing can make them seem dismissive and belittling and — surprise! — it's hard for them to go beyond short-term dating in a relationship.

According to Hall's research, this is the most common flirting style, probably because it has been proven to be the most effective.

You might meet this person at the bar, but they're probably there with a group of friends and not there to troll. In fact, out of the five styles of flirting, this person is the one who's going to complain that the music is too loud in the bar to talk.

The sincere flirt wants to make an emotional connection with a romantic partner and enjoys the getting-to-know-you phase. They ask a lot of questions and pay attention to the answers.

Bottom line: The sincere flirt has meaningful relationships where emotional connection comes first, sexual chemistry second.

This flirt believes that women shouldn't be too forward, and men should take the lead — make the first move, open doors, pick up the tab.

Guess what? Women are much more likely than men to be traditional flirts.

Guess what? Women might want to rethink that.